What If? Blog
Jun 17th, 2009
Like everyone else who has visited the food program, I was absolutely blown away with the patience, love and order of the whole event. As I scanned the room taking pictures of the children savoring their meal, I noticed a significant number of children taking a few bites of their food and packing the rest away in a Tupperware container they had brought along. I turned to Porfil, one of the food program helpers and inquired what would become of the saved food. Porfil told me that most of the children bring the remaining food home to share with their sick parents or younger siblings who are too weak or small to travel to the food program, or even simply to save food for the morning when their stomachs start to growl again. Hearing this, I was absolutely amazed at the restraint and compassion of these children. If I were starving, would I be able to only take two bites of the delicious, hot food and save the rest for later or for other people? I would hope so, but I couldn’t even imagine having horrible hunger pains, having warm delicious food presented before me, and having the self-restraint as a 6 year old to not impulsively gobble it all up. The demeanor and compassion of these young children shows experience and wisdom beyond their years.
-Caitlin Szymanski, Assistant Director
Jun 15th, 2009
Writing my reflections for my first trip to Haiti has proven to be a fairly difficult task. Finding the right words to describe what I saw at the St. Clare’s programs and within the community seems almost impossible and never ending. Instead, over the next few days I hope to highlight and describe just a few of the moments I shared and reflected on while visiting this wonderful community—
One of the most memorable moments of my trip to Haiti had to be speaking with one of the education coordinators, Berthany Wolf. Currently he is working towards his law degree at a local public university on a full scholarship (he was able to pass the national exam which only 2% of the country is able to do). While waiting outside the church rectory, I casually started talking with this bright young man who had managed to learn conversational English on his own (without any formal instruction). During the next ten minutes, beautiful sentences about his hopes and dreams poured out of his mouth. He described how he hopes to become a human rights attorney to serve all of the unjustly tried poor in his community and in all of Haiti. He doesn’t understand why entitled Haitian people such as doctors and lawyers would leave Haiti when they are able to fight for the lives of the wonderful people that live in the country. Berthany, with a smile on his face, exclaimed that without Fr. Gerry, he would not be where he is today. All of his life, Fr. Gerry had told him that everyone must work hard together to do what they can to make Haiti a better place. Dedicated to fulfilling this, Berthany said that he follows the well known and well repeated advice of Fr. Gerry – to work hard, study hard, and pray. It is because of Fr. Gerry, he caringly stated, that he wants to be a better man, the best man that he can be. It was at this moment that I really started to grasp how much of an impact Fr. Gerry has had on the lives of so many and how dedicated this small community is to fighting for a better tomorrow.
-Caitlin Szymanski, Assistant Director
Jun 4th, 2009
Caitlin just posted all of the photos from our recent visit to Haiti on the website gallery. Please check them out as ” a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Jun 1st, 2009
The Board of Directors of the What If? Foundation mourns with thousands upon thousands of others in Haiti and around the world, the passing of our friend, Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste. It was he who inspired Margaret Trost to form the What If? Foundation and to work with him to begin the food and education programs at St. Clare’s Church, and it was he who never ceased to encourage our efforts.
Beloved by the children and by all the members of his community who have labored so joyously in the programs, he will continue through his buoyant spirit, to lift up the hearts of all as we go about the vital work that remains to be done.
We mourn, yet not as those without hope. Fr. Jean-Juste has held a firm belief in the grace of God and in the power of love to redeem the world. We rejoice with all the saints in heaven in Fr. Jean-Juste’s summons to eternal life.
May we re-dedicate ourselves in his memory to the beloved children and students of the St. Clare’s community, who shall always remain close to his heart, and to ours.
May 31st, 2009
Bill Quigley, who I have traveled with in Haiti, wrote a beautiful tribute to Fr. Jean-Juste on commondreams.org. Click here to read it. Also, here is the link to The New York Times obituary. My heart is so sad at this loss, but I know that Fr. Gerry will always guide and inspire me. Margaret
May 28th, 2009
I’m so sad to tell you the heart breaking news that Fr. Gerry passed away yesterday. Caitlin and I visited him at the hospital last weekend, after returning from Haiti. I am so grateful we had that time together. He was unconscious, so we weren’t able to talk with him. But it still was a very special, important time.
There are no words to describe this loss. Fr. Gerry and I have worked closely together for a little over nine years. His vision of a food program for the hungry children in his community is what inspired me and got the What If? Foundation started. Gerry was a close friend and mentor and is the most courageous person I’ve ever known. He lived his faith every day, put “word into deed”, and taught me endless lessons in patience, compassion, love, and hope. I am so incredibly sad and the reality is just beginning to settle in.
Years ago, he passed on the day-to-day operations of the food and education programs we fund to dedicated, excellent leaders in the St. Clare’s community, who run them beautifully. Together, we are committed to continuing Fr. Gerry’s vision of providing hope and opportunity to the impoverished children in Haiti. I know his spirit will guide us as we continue to take steps towards change.
I’ll share more in future blogs, including news of my recent trip to Port-au-Prince. (Caitlin and I were not able to blog from Haiti after the first day due to internet connection problems.)
Margaret Trost – Executive Director, What If? Foundation
May 19th, 2009
Today was an extraodinarily powerful day. I visited the food program for the first time. Having had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the food program from Margaret and other donors who had visited St Clare’s, I already had what I thought was a pretty vivid picture in my head of what would take place. Although all of their words accurately described the motions that took place today, to see the faces, smiles, dedication, and hope of these people come alive, has left a new and unbelievably beautiful image in my mind that I will always carry with me. Thank you for helping make this food program possible. I feel honored to represent the What If ? Foundation and to be part of this “great sharing.” I’d tell you more, but unfortunately, Margaret and I am utterly exhausted after such a moving day, but we plan on sharing more with you tomorrow when we have a free moment. Bon Nuit -Caitlin, What If? Foundation Assistant Director
May 18th, 2009
Caitlin and I arrived safely in Port-au-Prince this afternoon. We head out early tomorrow morning to the food program and will also meet with the education coordinators. I’m so excited to be here! We had a chance for a quick visit to see Manmi Det and Nennenn. They were the first cooks for the food program back in 2000 and are close friends. Today is Flag Day in Haiti, so the streets were full tonight with people gathering to celebrate. There’s very little electricity, so the neighborhoods are dark. I didn’t realize there were so many people in the streets until our car’s headlights lit them up – friends sitting on cement blocks talking on the side of the road, children playing in the streets, others walking with big buckets full of water - all completely in the dark. I imagine that many of them ate very little today, unless they walked to the food program at St. Clare’s. We’re excited to share a lot more with you tomorrow night. Margaret
May 3rd, 2009
Today, I went to First Congregational Church of Sonoma, CA to speak about my experiences in Haiti and how the Haitian people have made such a difference in my life. I always enjoy the opportunity to share how their faith, courage, and love have inspired and nourished me in so many ways. Seth Donnelly of the Haiti Action Committee also spoke about his recent visit to Haiti. He stopped by the food program and took some video of all the children eating. He said the rectory was absolutely packed – with hundreds and hundreds of children enjoying the hot, nutritious meals that streamed out of the kitchen. I am so grateful for First Congregational Church’s support of the What If? Foundation and how their donations, and everyone else’s, make these critical meals possible. Joan Huguenard of the Sonoma Sun wrote a wonderful article Seth’s and my visit. Click here to read it.
Apr 6th, 2009
Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times has written two excellent pieces on Haiti over the last week. In one of them he mentions the innovative work of Sasha Kramer and the nonprofit S.O.I.L. Sasha has led the effort to install composting toilets that turn human waste into fertilizer – something that is desperately needed by farmers in Haiti. Sasha is a friend of mine and one of these composting toilets was placed at the St. Clare’s rectory a year ago. Our hope is that it will fertilize the garden that is still in the vision stage, but hopefully will become reality in the months to come. Click here to read Krostoff’s article.
Another powerful op-ed by Kristof called “At Stake Are More Than Banks” is about the G-20 summit and the toll of the global economic crisis on the poor in Haiti and elsewhere. He writes, “As usual, the greatest price for incompetence at the summit will be borne by the poorest people in the world — who aren’t represented there and who never approved any bad loans.” Click here for a link to this article. Margaret Trost
